Collapsible sawhorse bracket



y 13, 1969 J. A. THOMPSON 3,443,662

COLLAPSIBLE SAWHORSE BRACKET Filed Nov. 7, 1967 1 N VEN TOR.

Ja/m A. Thom 0800 3,443,662 'COLLAPSIBLE SAWHORSE BRACKET John A. Thompson, 1355 Griffin Ave., Mahtomedi, Minn. 55115 Filed Nov. 7, 1967, Ser. No. 681,135 Int. Cl. E04g 1/34, N32

US. Cl. 182--155 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to sawhorses and more particularly to sawhorse brackets, its main objective being the provision of a new and improved bracket of the character described which is always intact with nothing to take apart and which can readily be attached to and disassembled from the wooden frame pieces of a sawhorse.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a collapsible bracket comprising but few parts, simple and inexpensive to manufacture, light in weight but strong and durable in construction and which when folded for nonuse, and in combination with a like bracket and this wooden frame pieces just above referred to will be so compact as to occupy but little space in storage and or shipment.

The bracket includes four units, viz; two leg channels, a body channel comprising the upright portion of an inverted T and, the transverse portion of the T. And, it is a further and important object of the invention that each unit be a section cut from a length of sheet metal which, in cross section, forms three sides of a parallelogram.

Another object of the invention is to so mount the leg channel members as to swing in a vertical plane to operative position and about a horizontal axis to folded, inoperative position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of stop means whereby the leg channels, when swung to position for use, will automatically assume the proper angle of divergence from the vertical center of the body channel.

Another object is the provision of a pair of longitudinally adjustable braces having the dual function of locking the leg channels in position for use and in sidewise abutment with the body channel when swung to folded position.

And, still further objects of the invention are the provision of clamping means for holding the wooden legs of the horse against longitudinal movement in their respective leg channels, and a pair of pivoted U-shape straps for closing and opening the leg channels at their upper ends.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed 3,443,662 Patented May 13, 1969 but includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.-

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an end view of the invention in position for use.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an end view of the bracket seen in FIG- URES 1 and 2 but with the leg channels folded and locked in their inoperative position.

FIGURE 4 is a view in elevation as seen from the left of FIGURE 3.

And, FIGURE 5 is a side view, to be explained, of the upper portion of one of the leg channel members.

In the drawings like numerals have reference to similar parts throughout the several views.

The frame work of a sawhorse for which the illustrated embodiment of the inven ion is intended is made of the usual squared pieces of timber cut to desired lengths and comprises the horizontally extending work supporting bar, an end portion of which is seen in phantom lines at 6 in FIGURE 5, and (2) at each end of such bar a pair of diverging legs seen 7, 7 in phantom lines in FIGURE 1. The legs 7, in this instance, standard 2 x 4 inch pieces, while the bar 6 may be 2 x 4 inches, 2 x 6 inches or of even greater width. Although only one bracket of the instant invention is shown, it will be understood that two of them will be required, one at each end of the bars 6.

Each bracket includes three sheet metal channels viz. An inverted T-shape body the vertical portion 8 of which is adapted to receive one end of the work supporting bar 6 of the horse, this portion 8 being integral with latteral portion 9 upon which the bar 6 rests, and a pair of opposing leg channels 10 and 10' which slidingly receive corresponding leg pieces 7 of the horse, these members 10 and 10' resting, when in operative position, against the upper end edges of the body portion 9 and whereby they automatically assume the predetermined angle of divergence. It will be observed, by reference to FIG- URES 1 and 2 that the parts 8, 9, 10 and 10" lie in the same vertical plane and are of equal width. Preferably, for the purpose of simplicity in construction and to reduce manufacturing costs to a minimum, the body channel 8, support member 9 and leg channels 10 and 10' are sections cut from a length of sheet steel which, as hereinabove mentioned, may be and, as illustrated in the drawing, in cross section forms a parallelogram and thus the channels within such members.

For rigidity of construction the leg channels 10 and 10 are detachably connected to each other by a pair of braces each generally indicated by numeral 11 and comprising an elongated sleeve portion 12 and a plate 13 slidable therein, the sleeve 12 of one brace having pivotal connection to the adjacent side wall of leg channel 10 by means of a rivet 14 while sleeve 12 of the other brace has like pivotal connection with leg channel 10. The outer end of each slide 13 has detachable connection with the adjacent side wall of its respective leg channel 10 or 10' by means of a threaded stud 15 which extends through an upwardly opening slot 16 in the slide, the stud being provided with a tightening wing nut 17. The telescopic braces 11 lie parallel with and against the side faces of the support member 9, their respective slide members 12 and 13 being relatively adjustable longitudinally on a rivet 18 in sleeve 12 which engages through slot 19 in slide 13.

Plates forming a pair of vertically swinging brackets 20 have hinge connection 21 along their top edges with the side walls of body channel 8 at substantially the upper end edges of leg channel 10 and 10. The plates, forming the brackets 20, at their bottom edges clear the top of support member 9 and lie flush with the respective bottom walls, indicated at 22, of leg channels 10 and 10 which by rivets 23 are fulcrumed to rotate, each independently about a horizontal axis to its folded position.

Extending through the inner side wall of each leg channel, at a point intermediate the brace 11 and the top of the channel is a thumb screw 24, see FIGURE 3, which is threaded through a fixed nut 25 on the outer faces of -the said wall and, to hold such nut against any possible axial movement, it is preferably enclosed within a cap 26 welded to the channel wall. On the inner end of each screw 24 is a fiat disc 27 the function of which is to forcefully bear against the inserted wooden leg 7 and hold it in place.

Again referring to FIGURE 3 it will be observed that each leg channel is provided with longitudinally extending angle pieces 27 at the inner corners and flat strips 29 along the outer edges of the outwardly opening face. The inserted legs 7 are contained by these pieces 28 and 29 so that they may be inserted and properly centered within the channels with ease and without obstruction.

U-shape straps 30 straddle the leg channels and 10' at their ends as shown, the turned down ends of the straps being pivotally connected as at 31, with the side walls of the channels, these walls being rounded at 32 for proper swinging movement of the straps as will be obvious. When the straps occupy the position shown clearly in FIGURE 1 they close the upper ends of the channels so that the inserted legs 7 will not push through when weight is placed upon the horse. Swinging the straps outwardly opens the channels for longitudinal adjustment of the legs 7 therein, this being for the purpose of saving space when the legs of opposing brackets are swung toward each other in folded position.

Operation of the bracket is as follows:

In position for use the bracket is opened up as seen in FIGURE 1.

Then, when the horse, of which two opposing brackets form connecting parts, is to be folded for storage or transportation, the braces 11 of each bracket are detached from their respective leg channels 10 and allowed to swing into alignment with the leg channels 10 after which the braces 11 are shortened as much as possible by sliding the telescoping parts of the braces together. The straps 30 are then flipped open and to further shorten the legs of the horse the wooden parts 7 of the legs are shoved upwardly through the bracket leg channels 10 and 10 and firmly secured therein by discs 27. After this the legs at each end of the horse are swung toward each other by rotating them 90 about their axes 23 and vertically inward so as to occupy the position shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 in which position the leg channels 10 and 10' rest upon the extended ends of the support member 9 and in sidewise abutment. The shortened braces 11 are then brought into further use by snapping them into locking engagement with the leg channels 10'. Should it be desired to have the channels 8 permanently attached to the work supporting bar 6, they be secured thereto by wood screws 33 seen symbolically in FIGURE 1.

What I claim is:

1. The combination in a collapsible sawhorse bracket of two leg channels and an intermediate body channel all of equal width vertically disposed and in side by side relation, each of said channels being formed of sheet metal and in cross section forming three sides of a parallelogram, plates fiush with the opposing bottoms of said leg channels and comprising a pair of swinging brackets, pivots in said plates on which said leg channels are mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis, hinges along the top edges of said plates whereby the plates are pivotally connected to the sides of said body channel to swing in a vertical plane, bracing means detachably connecting said leg channels together, clamping means adjustably mounted in said leg channels, and means movable to provide an obstruction across the open upper ends of the leg channels.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the said body channel includes a laterally extending bottom portion integral therewith and of equal width the top end edges of said bottom portion being equal in distance from the sides of the body channel and provide stops against which the bottoms of said leg channels lie at a predeter mined angle of divergence.

3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said braces comprise a pair of longitudinally adjustable telescoping slides, one right and the other left and bearing against respective side faces of said bottom portion of the body channel, the outer slide of each brace having pivotal connection to one of said leg channels with the inner slide having detachable pin-and-slot connection with the other leg channel.

4. The combiation according to claim 1 wherein said means providing an obstruction across the open upper ends of said leg channels comprises a pair of U-shape straps, the lateral end portions of which are pivoted to the rounded upper corners of respective ones of the leg channels.

5. The combination according to claim 1 wherein each of the said clamping means is a flat disc on the inner end of a thumb screw threaded through a nut integrally secured to the outer face of the inner side of its respective leg channel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,067,809 7/1913 Hallock 182-225 2,412,716 12/1946 Campbell 182-186 2,973,053 2/1961 Beaty 182-155 FOREIGN PATENTS 5 34,943 9/ 1931 Germany.

REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner.

US. 01. X.R. 182-181, 225 

